Tuesday 8 March 2016

Merkava - Hatching fun

Sometimes, you build half a tank in 2 hours, sometimes it takes the same time to build ONE hatch.

Parts B36 (hinges) are supposed to just snap in the slots on parts D16 and D17. Yeah ... no.

  • If you apply enough pressure, it will eventually snap in ... and fall back out, because the 2 little pins inside broke off. 
  • If you pry open the large pins to insert the little hinge, you see those tell-tale white lines appear in the plastic, telling you you've overestimated the flexibility of the plastic (or underestimated your own strength).

Nothing left to do, but drill holes and provide your own wire. I didn't have any wire that was a) strong enough and b) small enough, but lucky for me, I have a girlfriend who used to make her own jewelry and has plenty of leftover beads and wire (!). I found some very small-diameter, plastic-coated braided wire. Very strong and small enough.


 
 

2 comments:

  1. Have to drill a hole?
    I never have the correct size bit.
    If I have the correct size bit, I don't have the correct size wire.
    If I have the correct size bit and wire, I miss-drill the hole.
    If I have the correct size bit and wire and I drill the hole correctly, I break the bit making the second hole.

    If I have the correct size bit and wire and I drill the hole correctly and I don't break the bit making the second hole.

    I realize I working on the wrong model.....Sigh! Modeling is not always as easy as some would have you to believe.
    CHEERS


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    Replies
    1. I have drill bits for 0.3, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, 2.0, 2.4 and 2.6 mm.

      The struggle is NEVER the size of the bit or the wire, ALWAYS the location of the hole. The tinier it is, the more it's obivous if it's off by 0.1 mm.

      I did arrive at the point of "F@#$ this, I'm gluing it stuck!", but remained calm and redrilled the hole right next to it and it worked. (You can't really see the extra holes, because it's hidden between two panels.

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